Method and system of selective character-display.



J. P. TARBOX.

METHOD AND SYSTEM OF SELECTIVE CHARACTER DISPLAY.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 2 1914.

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J. P. TARBOX.

METHOD AND SYSTEM OF SELECTlVE CHARACTER DISPLAY.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 2. 1914. 1,21 8,01 5. Patented Mar. 6, 1917.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Wi t nevus wwwm I J. P. TARBOX.

METHOD AND SYSTEM OF SELECTIVE CHARACTER DISPLAY. APPLICATION'FILED FEB. 2. I914.

1,21 8,01 5 I Patented Mar. 6, 1917.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

a wbawtoz J. P, TARBOX.

METHOD AND SYSTEM OF SELECTIVE CHARACTER DISPLAY. 1,218,015.

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1.1 m 6E v LW 8 n? MT n M m t a P APPLICATION r1150 FEB. 2. 1914.

MW- fl J. P. TARBOX.

METHOD AND SYSTEM OF SELECTIVE CHARACTER DISPLAY.

' APPLICATION FILED- FEB; 2. I914. 1,218,015. Patented Mar. 6,1917.

5 SHEETSSHEET 5- TIME OF- ONE BAR 'f WAT/04 6 v UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIC.

JOHN P. TARBOX, or v WASHINGTON, nIsrnIc'r or coLUMBiA.

METHOD AND SYSTEM SELECTIFE CHARACTER- DISPLAY.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that L'Jorm P. TARBOX, a citizen of the United States, residing at Washington, in the District of Columbia,

have invented certain new and useful'Im-' provements in Methodszgand Systems of Se.- lective Character-Display, of which the fol= lowing is a specification.

My. inventlon relates to that type of sysy,

tems of display commonly known as flashing signs. It has for its principal object the "production of a system possessing a sufiicient degree of adaptability and flexibility. As at present constructed, such systems have a very limited field of use, both because of limitation in the mumber of advertisements displayed at any given time, and the/"limitations of the electrical and mechanical apparatusemployed,the'se apparatuses being capa -ble of going through the controlling operation in a cyclical manner only. Thus after the apparatus ,has once been set up according .to any given advertising code, it is impracticable to modify that code 'without' an entire readjustment of the apparatus, such readjustment entailing resetting for any new code, and such resetting being a very tedious and painstaking matter.

In contrast to this, the primary controlling elements of thesystem of my invention may and are intended to be operated upon at will to effect instantaneously the display,

andthe character of the display, of any desired subject matter whatsoever. The primary controlling elements comprise a keym board similar to the keyboard of'an ordinary typewriter and a perforated -sheet similar to the perforated note sheet of an ordinary automatic musical instrument. Not only may any desired subject-matter whatsoever :be displayed in writing, but all the possible means of punctuation and emphasis whic are used in writing upon comjmercial W 11i ing machines of today, maybe-here utilized; such means including -q11otation""mark's, un-

derscoring, and change of color.. Furthermore, emphasis and distinction of individual words, phrases or paragraphs may be accomplished by flashing or changing color on individual words, by delaying-the display of "'a given word and suddenly flashing the entire word forth; on the other hand, by allowing a given'word to remain in fixed display,

the sign is ng flashed, and ma y other Specification of Letters Patent.

flas h ing the entire remainder of the ,sign'g-or by'changing color on the w d while Patented'Mar. 6, 191?.

Application filed February 2, 1914. serial No. 816,030.

similar Variations. .So also the underscor- .ing may take place letter by letter, or after the display of a whole word has been completed. Andthrough the perforated sheet, not onlymay display be made according to fixed forms or codes, but-the words of songs or verses may be rendered in display the words-being displayed inexact musical time, and with all the effects of acceleration, re-

tardation, accent, modulation, etc., that may be had from the voice of a singer. Every person of the nation is familiar with the popular as well as theold-time airs, and the effect of the display in the proper musical time of any-one of these familiar'airs is very striking. Advertising matter -may be set to time of music in a wide variety of changes,

and the effect produced upon the observer is rendered lasting through association with the air which same time.

I show the best form of my invention now I known-to me upon the accompanying sheets of drawing, upon .Which- Figure 1 discloses one runs through his mind at the line of display devices and the associated primary and sec ondary control elements;

Fig. 2 discloses a second row of display devices above the first, together with its associated secondary controlling elements;

" Fig. 3 discloses still a third row of display (Fig. 2), and III (Fig. 3) denote three rows of display devices located one aboie the other in the order named, which order the figures of the drawings are to be read. The

deyices of each of these rows are each composedof a group of electric lamps D arrang d in suitable 1ight boxes and having circ ts adapting them tobe energized in various combinations to illustrate anyletter of the alphabet, or any numeral or figure character, as is at the" present time well known and well understood in the art. I

have chosen to show in each of the devices 1) only nine electric lamps of a given color, showing specifically nine white lamps designated by white circles, and nine red lamps designated by blackened circles. -Any de sired number, and any desired arrangement of such number maybe provided in each device. So also sets of lamps of other colors besides the white and red disclosed may be used if desired. In each device all of the whitelamps w have one terminal connected to common conductors 10, While all the. red

' lamps 1' have all of their corresponding terminals connected to common conductors 11. The opposite terminals of each pair of elements 1", 20 (which by the way are located in the same cell or box) are connected to a trunk" wire 12, and the trunk wires of all the pairs 1', w of a given device Dare multipled to the contacts 13 of a plurality of relays A, B, etc.

There are provided as many of the relays A, B, etc., as there are letters in the alphabet, and numeral and other characters which it'is desired to display in connection with any device D. There will thus be associated with trunks 12 of each device D approxi' mately forty ofthese relays A, B, etc., counting twenty-six letters in the alphabet, ten numerals and four punctuation marks or other figure characters.

The contacts 13 of relays A, B, etc., are normally open, and when the relays A, B, etc., are-energized only those contacts 13 associated with any relay which connect with those trunks 12 adapted to display the letter by which the relay is designated, are closed. The remainder are either dispensed with or corresponding trunks 12 are disconnected. As illustrated, the contacts have been dis- ,pensed with, and only those of-trunks 12 adapted to display the character by which the relay is designated are connected with the contacts thereof. These relays are energized by operation upon the keyboard or' primary controlling element.

This keyboard is designated KB. It comprises a plurality of keys K arranged as usual. Each key closes two contacts 1 1 and 15. The upper contact 14 controls the operation of a spacing switch SP, while the lower one 15 controls commonly in eachcase all the individual relays of the sets A, B, etc., which are designated by the same letter. Thus one key A will control the relays A- of all the devices D, while the key B will similarly control the circuit of all of the relays B. In addition to keys K- there is provided a spacing key 87c which operates the spacing switch SP independent of the character keys K. The spacing switch is of the step-by-step type, having an actuating magnet a0 and a plurality of contacts 00 through each of which is controlled all of the relays A, B, etc., belonging to a given device display D. Thus, speaking in geometrical terms, the control of switch SP is at right angles to the control of the keyboard KB, relays 22 being located in the intersections of the crossed control lines, and as a result of their conjunctive operation that one of vices D is a set of transfer relays TR, the

function of which is to transfer from each lower line to the next upper line, the subject matter displayed on the lower line. By this means the similation of actual typewriting is obtained, the writing advancing from the lowermost line to the uppermost, aS in moving the sheet for line spaclng in an ordinary typewriting machine.

Reverting now to the common terminals 10 and 11 of the red and white lamps of each device D, there is provided (Fig. 2) a set of individual control relays 1N one id for each pair of the common terminals 10 and 11 of each device D. In the same group TN is provided for each device D a relay an controlling the circuit 16 of a groupof underscoring elements lUN.

Associated with individual relays TN is a group of control relays CR governed by a group of control keys CK bearing various designations indicative of their peculiar character. The function of these relays and control keys is to determine the particular character of the display in letters or groups of letters singled out by the relays IN. 1 It will be understood of course that the relays IN are duplicated in the second row H of devices D, and likewise duplicated for the third set III of Fig. 3. Certain of thecontrol relays CR will be duplicated, as hereinafter shown, but on the other hand certain of them will not be duplicated.

The operation is as follows: The operator we will assume has before him a number of little cards upon each of which there has been typewritten (or handwritten) an advertisement or other subject matter of display. Preferably this is arranged on the card asto line and spacing in precisely the way it is desired to have it displayed, underscoring, change of color, flashing, etc., being appropriately marked. The "operator sits down at the-keyboard and operates upon it in the same manner in which he would opertising forms in code form upon the perforated sheet SH, a feed motorfor the sheet (this is not shown but may be any of the Well known sheet feeders) .is started and there follows display precisely in accordance with the code upon the sheet. At the -marginal portions of the sheet are shown graduations, indicative Of'musica'l time, and by placin the perforations with respect to these gra uations (thisfmay be done in asuitable machine) the words and syllablesmay be displayed in an desired musical time. This is shown inetail in Figs.6 and 7, illustrating the placement upon the sheet in Suwanee river, far, far. away.; The Words way and, down have already been displayed as indicated in Fig. 7 and the next syllable U of the word U-pon is about to be displayed. Assuming that that portion of the-sheet designated time'of one bar is to pass brushes br in the usual time of one" deed from hour to hour, without the slightest degree of inconvenience. fact features of the business with such a system would be immediate and prompt display and. change as and when desired. Obviously, an'expert operator could operatethe system without the use of form cards, and a person of'advertising skill can operate the machine as he"thinks of the subject in hand, and need be furnished only with the subject-matter.-

The' announcement of the time may be made at frequent intervals, and always constitutes an attractive feature.

. When any key K of device KB is pressed,

through contact 14 it closes from commonconductor 17, which is connected to ground,

- the circuit 18 of actuating magnet ac of the spacing switch SP. This steps spacing switch SP one step forward, thus closing by contact 00 from battery through arm 19 of the circuit '20.of the relays A,'. B, etc., of that device D which is next to be operated 'to diswith an indicating pointer p0 moving over a scale 8'0 and indicating the particular device D of any row I," II, III, being operated. Just after the closure of circuit" 18, any key closes through contacts 15 from conductor musical time as respects the graduations on. the side thereof of Way down upon-the marks. may be changed from day to day, and inboard I y f The initial energizing.circult for thereplay the nextletter; Switch SP is provided,

17, that one of the circuits 21 extending to therelays of the sets designated in common by the same letter which designates the key K which is closed. Positive battery is placed on conductors 20, While negative batdisplaying the character designated by the key pressed, .and'in addition locks itself up. This lockin circuit for each relay comprises a win ing 22, a negative battery connection 23 common to all the relays, a contact 24 individual to the relay, a positive battery connection. 25 or the like common to all the contacts 24 of a given display row. The battery connection 25 extends to a group, of transfer relays TR and is controlled by them in such'a manner that the locking circuits remain closed until any com; A pleted line of display has been transferred to tlie'next line above. Thus each character as it is displayed, remains displayedon a: given line, until transferred- One by one,

,as'guick as a flash, and as quick as the keys' K can be operated, the characters are 'displayed, divided-properly into words by the pressure of the'spacing key sic (which steps s'wit'ch SP past any given device D) and properly punctuated by the pressure of those .of the keys K designated by the punctuation V The operation from record 'shee't' SH is precisely the same as that described, the relays re being energized over circuits Y 26. from brushes br'which make contact with a, metallic cylinder 27,''and the relays 5 inturn controlling contacts 14, 15 ofthe same oiiel as the contacts 14, 15 of the keylays is from positive batteryby way of arm 19 of switch SP,-c0nductor 20, permanent winding of the relay, conductor 21, key K, ground, and to negative battery. The complete circuit for the relay when locked up is from positive battery by dotted line conid-uc'tor to contact 41 of relay L conductor 25, contact 24, winding 22, conductor 23 and ground tobattery.

approaching the end of a line, battery isgplaced upon the bell magnet 28 through'arm 19 of switch SP and contact '29,

Land the bell. 30 sounds, giving the operator warning ithat thefend of the line is reached.

Almost coextensive; with contacts ,co of 4 switch SP, is contact segment 30 having'a connection through conductor 31 with con-. tact, 32 of relay 34. This relay 34 is controlled by transfer key TK', and this-key is pressed whenever the end 9f the-displayt on any line is reached, and it is desired to transfer to the next. Relay 34 when pulled up by the pressure of" key TK locks up through contact 32, circuit 31, segment 30 and arm 19 to battery. It therefore maintains closed to rest with the opposite end of arm 19 on acter relay A,

the first contact 00 of its bank. This type of switch SP having a double ended switch arm 19 is well known in the arts, particularly in the art of telephony. Spacing switch SP is therefore ready to space the display upon a new line. This new line as respects the rows I, II, III, is the same line upon which the display has been previously made, the display upon line I when the key TK is pressed being automaticallytransferred to the display devices D of line- II. This transfer is accomplished through the transfer relays TR.

The transfer relays TB control the battery connections of the transfer and locking circuits of the character relays A, B, etc., of the respective rows I, II, III. Each charfore stated, with a locking circuit including locking contact 24. These locking contacts are connected commonly to conductor 25, and transfer relays TB control the battery connection of this conductor. Commonly connected to conductor 35, the connection of which to battery is also controlled by transfer relays TR, is a transfer contact 36 on each relay A, B, etc., controlling in each case a transfer circuit 37 extending to the main energizing winding of relays A, B, etc., of the next row above, as clearly traceable in Figs. 1, 2 numbered 36 throughout the drawings, in connection with other groups of relays as well as the groups A, B, etc. The transfer relays TR function to apply battery to common conductor 35, whereby character relays in the second row II corresponding to those in the first row I are energized and locked .up through there locking windings 22, and upon this energization to break the battery connection of the locking conductor 25 of row or line I. This they doin the following manner:

The set TR comprises three mainfrelays R, R, and R corresponding to the three rows I, II and III, and are respectively energized whenever the character relays of the corresponding row are energized. Preferably they have substantially the same time constants or periods of energization and deenergization, so that their action is indicative of the action of the corresponding sets tact 41 on looking relay L Relay R B, etc., is provided, as hereto-.

and 3. The transfer contacts are of relays A, B, etc. includes three relays l L, and L the function of which is the control of the locking circuits 25, and two transfer relays T and T the function of which is to control the battery connectionv of the transfer con ductors 35-extending in the one case from the character relays of row I to those of row II, and in the other case, from those in row II .to those in row III. The control of the locking and transfer circuits 25 and 35 of a reater number of rows is had by simply adding other groups R, L and T to the set TR, as will readily appear.

- \Vhen spacing switch SP steps to the first contact of its bank, it puts battery through contact 38 to conductor 39, resulting in the energization of relay R. Arm 19 of switch SP soon leaves contact 38, but relay R locks up by its contact 40 to locking circuit 25 of the character relays of 'row I, the connection of which locking circuit to battery is controlled by normally closed concloses by contact 42 corresponding to. contact 36 of the character relays A, B, etc., the con nection of transfer circuit 43 of relay R to the common transfer circuit conductor 35. This circuit may be connected to battery by conductor 45, normally closed contact 46 of relay L", conductor 47 and normally open contact 48 of relay T, by energizing relay T, but until relay T is energized, no such transfer can take'place. V

- However, when display on row I is completed and key TK is pressed, as aforesaid, in addition to the closure of locking relay 3% of switch SP, there is closed circuit 4!) extending, in case relay R" is not energized (as it is not when only the first row I has been used in display) by way of contact 50-of relay R and conductor 51 to relay L which is thereby momentarily energized. Relay L closes by contact 52 the circuit 53 of transfer relay T, which upon energization locks up by its contact 54, conductor 55 and normally closed back contact 56 of locking relay L Thus transfer relay T" closes at contact 48 :the circuit 48, 47,, 46, 45. 42, 13 of relay R of the second row II of display devices D, thereby putting battery through conductor 45 upon the common transfer conductor 35 connected with the transfercontacts 36 of character relays A, II. Thereupon relays A, B, of row II correcome energized over conductors 37, and are locked up by locking windings 22 as aforesaid, and in all respects similarly to the locking of relays A, B, etc.,, of row I. This occurs simultaneously with the pulling up of the relay R of the transfer set TR. Pulling up of R is therefore indicative of the actionof relays l), etc., in pulling up and if desired the ime Additionally, the set TR sponding to those energized in row I bcof pulling up of relay R (or R etc.) can be made .in any one of several ways, well known to the-relay art, such as dash pots,

etc., just' a little greater than the time required by the slowest of the relays A, B, etc.,

so that all of them will. have been pulled up and locked up by the time relay R pulls up and locks'up.

Relay R F locks up by contact 57, conductor 58 connecting with conductor 25, and normally closed back contact'59 of locking relay L to battery. At the same time relay R closes .by front contact 60 the circuit 61 ofrrelay L, which circuit extends through the now closed front contact 62 of transfer relay T, which as aforesaid, is nowlocked up through back'contact 56 of relay L closed contact of relay R indicative of, .the condition of the character relays of row I. But the moment that looking circuit 25 is broken at contact 41, relay R falls back with the character relays, and thereby unlocks relay L restoring the battery connection of locking circuit 25? after relays A, B,

etc., have fallen back, and'their lockin cir-' cuits are open at their contacts 24. referably the period of falling back of relay R (and relays R" and R as well) is made in any one of the several ways well known in the relay art, such as copper sheathed cores, etc. equal to or greater than the period of falling back of the slowest of the char-' acter relays.

, "In this manner is the display of the lower row I transferred to the next upper row II in precisely the same form which'it' had on row I. Thus if the display be for instance The Underwood typewriting machine, the same display now appears in line II,

whereas the display of line I has been extinguished.

The same is true, irrespective of the subject matter of the display.

' Now, assuming that line II has been used, and line I again in addition, the writing, so

to spealn'having been carried on continu ously',at the time the end of line I is again I reached key TK' is again pressed, with the same result as respects. the spacing switch SP, "relay R having been again energized at the beginning of .the new line. Not so however, with respect to the transfer re lays TR. Contact 50 of relaylt is at this time closed upon conductor 66 from which 5 relay I is energized instead of relay L",'as

79 the circuit of relay L by way of the was'formerly the case (L being energized over conductor 51 alternate-to'conductor 66). Relay L pulls'up momentarily (locking circuit 67 closed by contact 68 being opened at contact 69 of relay R f) but long enough 7 to close by contact 70 the circuit71 of transfer relay T This-relay pulling up locks to battery by.contact 72, conductor .73, and I back contact 74 ,of relay L, and at the same, time 'by contact 7 5, places battery by way of conductor 76, and back contact 77 of relay L upon transferconductor 35 of the character-relays A, B, etc., of'row II. The circult of relay R indicative of the condition of the character relays A, B,.etc., of row III (Rig; 3) has been'connected to this con-, ductor 35 by fr'ont contact 78 of relay R and relay R therefore pulls up simultaneously with those relays A, B, etc., of row III ('Flg. 3) which correspond. to thoseof row 3 II which are already pulled up. Thus the displa originally of' row I, and then of row I is now shifted-to the upper row III. i, As relay R ,pulls up it closes by its contact now closed front contact 81 of transfer relay T Relay L pulls up and breaks-the locking circuit 25 of the relays A, .B, etc.,

of row II at contact '59, also breaking the locking circuit 72, 73, 74 of relay T which now falls back, andlocks'itself to battery by I contact 82, conductor 83, and now closed front contact 84 of relay B". This latter contact, however," is I almost immediately broken,

whereupon relay L" is again denergized- In its operation, however, relay L lfhas closed the circuit 52, 53 of transfer relay T, which as in caseof the original transferfrom royv I to row II, again puts battery by contact 48, '47, 46 and 45 upon the common transfer 05.

conductor 35, which results in the immediate ctransfer of the display their upon line I fer key. TK, whe eby the i'iext ower line may be accommodated when the transfer to line II, whereupon the relays A B, etc.,

of lineI all fallback, leaving line I blank as before. But now the two-lines of display 10 which have been written are displayed at the top of the board, on lines numbered III and II respectively, and line I is ready again to'be written upon. Obviously this may be carried on; ad infinitum, usebeing made of as many'lines upon the single display board I as are desired, the display writing proceeding inall substantial respects precisely as the writing upon all-ordinary letter sheet in I a visible typewriter, with the single exception, that there is no lateral movement thereof corresponding to the lateral travel of thetypewriter carriage. 1

Assuming all. hree lines of the threeeline upon, the uppermost line is extinguished I upon each succeedif g operationof he transapparatus illustrated to have been written takes place, The locking circuit 25 to 13 Which relay R is locked by contact 851 is opened by relay case there are provided more lines than three, and a greater number of relay groups in the set TR, obviously there should be provided in each relay R of the order following the relay B contacts corresponding to contacts 50 and 81, contacts corresponding to 50 being arranged to close either the circuitof the relay L corresponding, or the one succeeding, depending upon whether the relay'R to which it belongs is'energized or not. Thus conductor 49 enters set TR- at relay R, but in case of a set TR made up of say ten groups of relays R", L, T, etc., in case all ten corresponding rows of the display board were written upon, when key TK was pressed, relay L of the tenth row would be first energized, the circuit of 49 having been extended by the conductors similar to 66 and contacts similar to 50, all the Way back to the tenth group R L T",

In order that the contacts of the preferably small powered character relaysmay not be deteriorated-by breaking current at the rather highlighting voltage which is preferably employed in illuminated display systems of this character, the lighting' power circuits 87 (Fig. 1) are preferablyseparated from the battery circuits from which the relays are controlled, and whenever transfer key TK is pressed, to effect a transfer, it closes also the circuit ;88, vof'the actuating magnet 89 of contactor 90, the circuit controlling blades 91 and 92 of which are normally closed, applying current from the generator 93 or other'sour-ce over circuit 91 to .conductor 87. The power circuit is therefore broken immediately the transfer key is pressed, and when the relays A, B, etc., of the successiye rows fall back, they open the circuits at zero potential and there is no arcing at the terminals. Blades 91, 92 in the contactor 90 are made quite heavy to take care of the large total current, and may be provided with any of the so well known forms of magnetic blow-out, if desired.

Contactor 90 locks up to battery by contact 95, conductor 96, connecting with the locking circuit 25 of the first row IQ The power current is therefore not again applied to the conductors 87 until relays A, B, etc., of all the rows have successively fallen back, and the transfer of the display is complete. The time of this transfer takes only a fraction of' a second, despite what appears to be the large number of circuits entering into the control exercised by the transfer set TR. Relays of this type operate with extreme rapidity, and the transfer will have been made almost before the glow of the incandescent lamps of the display has subsided, thus giving the impression to the eye of a bodily movement of the entire display board upwardly, as if it consisted of an endless L at back contact 86. 'In

scroll studded with electric lights and showing inpart through an aperture of the dimensions of the display board.

VVhe'n the perforated sheet SH is being used to display the codified advertisements -or render songs, etc., it is of course understood that there is provided one of the brushes In" which may actuate a relay 97 to actuate key TK at the proper intervals. Any ordinarily manually controlled devices or parts of the system, may be similarly controlled from the perforated sheet, certain of these de ices being the color change and emphasizing relays, as will be hereinafter shown. 7

During the operation aforesaid, the conductors 10 and 11 connected with the oppositeterminals of the lamps w and r from the trunk conductors 12,'have been connected to the opposite terminal of'the source of power through back contacts 98 and 99 respectively of relays id, connecting when the relays are deenergized'with conductors 100 and 101, common to the relays id. Conductors 100, 101 are not connected directly to the source of power, but are connected there; with through contacts of the relays of the control group CR Conductor 100 connects 103, conductor 101, back contact 105 of relay 106, conductor 107, and back contact 108 of relay 109. The white lamps w of all of the devices D are therefore those normally in circuit, all of the common conductors 10 being normally connected to the conductor 100. Conductor 101 which connects with the'common conductors 11 of the red lamps r is not normally connected to the source of power, its circuit extending by way of normally open contact 110 of relay 109 to the source of power. A branch connection with conductor 101 may also be made through normally open contact 111 of relay 100 to conductor 112 connected with a source of power through normally closed release key BK. This opens contact 102 of conductor 101 and closes contact 115 which makes connection with interrupter 11'', which results in flashing the entire sign in white. This may be continued as long as desired, and upon pressure of key BK, the locking circuit 114 of 103 is open,

103'is unlocked, contact 115 opened, and contact 102 again closed, resulting in display in fixed white once more. .By pressing key ARS the circuit of relay 109 is closed di- 4 source power by way of ground, and closplay appears in ing contact 110, thereby connecting conductor 101 of the red lamps r to the source of power by way of ground, whereupon the disup by front contact 116 and conductor 117 through normally closed release" key RK, upon the pressure of which relay 109 may be released in the same manner as relay 103 and the display again transferred. to fixed whit-e. Upon the'pressure of'key YRS,

however, the vconnection of conductor 100 of the white lamps w is broken at contact 105 and the circuit of 101; made at contact 111 through conductor 112'and commutator insimilar to those just described, the quality' terrupter Ir, relay 106 locking up upon energizatio n by contacts 118 and through the release key RK as before, Thus the entire display maybe accomplishedin flashing red orother color than white for as long a pe-' riod as desired. Obviously by usingadditional sets of colored lamps in conjunction with those 136w, such for instance as green and blue lamps, and connecting them with special co ductors of the order of conductors 100, 101, t hrough additional contacts on individual relays id, and providing special keys and control relays in the group CR,

' of the display may be still further varied,

anycolor whatever represented 'in the devices D being used for the, display in fixed or flashing form. v

For each character, deviceD of each row of display devices there is provided an in.

' dividual )relay id, individually controlling 40 the connection of the common conductors 10, 11, and the like to the source of power through the relays CR, These relays are normally de'e'nergized, one terminal thereof being ermanently connected to ground by way 0 conductor 119, but the other terminal being connected each to an individual contact in bank LB swept over, by arm 120 on extension of the spindle -s of the spacing-- switch SI of Fig. 1. On account of the diagrammatic-showing, of the system, it has not been practicable to show the bank LB 1 in connection with the bank 00 of Fig. 1, but

power.

theidentity is clearly indicated by the same reference letter designations. Normally arm 120 of switch SP is not connected to battery,

whichfrelay locks up by contact 122, and norrelease key RKto the locking mally closed of the first row I of devices D.

conductor 25 Through relay connects arm 120 to the source of spaces, one of the relays id is-energized. Upon energizationreach relay id locks up fixed red. Belay 109 locksv contact 123, and conductor 12-1, this I Thereafter each time switch "SP" 11 of devices D from power conductors 100 and 101 to power conductors V100 and 101*. Sigg this, takes place individually for each v dfflay device D, obviously any single letter of he display may be individually connected irrespective of the remainder with conductors 100? and 101. The connection of power conductor 100 to the source is by way of normally open contact 125' of relay 120 "and conductor 139 to interrupter 11-. The connection of the companion conductor 101 is, by way of normally closed contact 128 on relay 129; normally closed contact 130 on relay 131, and normally open-contact 132 'on relay 133, and conductor 134 to a second interrupter 17 similar to the first interrupter, but arranged as clearly indicated to interrupt the circuit. of conductor 134 at a .diflerent angular point from the-interrupter I1". Preferably both'of these ,interrupters are mounted upon a common shaft and thereby driven at the same rotati've speed withthe result that the angular'displacementatthe Ltime of; circuit closure is preserved. By closing key YWL, the relay 126' is energized direct ground, connecting power conductor 100 to the source by the places in flashing white as distinguished y from the fixed white or other quality of display which ma at the time characterize the remainder of the sign. Relay 126 looks up by contact 135 and normally closed release key BK, upon the pressure of which this rethis locking circuit, and the display of that letter or letters heretofore made in flashing white is obliterated altogether, relays id r'em aining eiiergize'd. Thereupon, upon the pressure of key Y'RL, relay 129 is energized and locks up by contact 136 and conductor 137 through key RKfl the connection of con-- ductor 101 being cbmpleted to the source.

of power 'by front contact 138, ,and conductor 139, tocommutator-interrupter Ir.

The display of the selected group of devices.

now takes place in flashing red. Relayv 129 being released by pressure of key RK this display may be a blank word space in the midst of-an otherfrom batteryv at key YWL to lay 126 is released, through the opening of in turn obliterated, leaving ,wise complete display. Key ARL may now I be pressed, whereupon the connection: of power conductor 101 is completed by back contact 128 of relay- 12,9, and front contact 1400f the now energized relay 131 and the adjacent groundconnection -to the source 'o The selected letter, word, or group of words power independently of the conunutators.

of the display is now illuminated in fixed red. Relay 131 locks up by contact 141 and conductor 142, connecting with conductor 137 and key RK by the pressure of which it may also bereleased. Finally, the key RWL may be pressed, energizing relay 133 over and conductor 134, the circuit of which is controlled from interrupter 17- lected letter or word is therefore now displayed in alternating red and white. Obviously the number of such quality variations of any selected letter, Word, or group of words, is practically unlimited, it being only necessary to provide additional colored lamps and additional circuits and control relays therefor, as aforesaid, in connection with the display as a whole.

' Now will be fully appreciated the great utility of this; invention. emphasis is to be given, or particular attention attracted to any given letter, word, or group of Words, the operator has simply to press the key LTR before operating his key board KB to effect the display of characters, whereupon when the keyboard KB is operated, the particular devices D, upon which the letter, Word, or group of words, are to be displayed, are segregated from the remainder of the display by the simultaneous energization of the individual relays id. If at the same time the operator has'pressed the key LTR, he has pressed the'key ARL,;

for instance, the selected letter, word, or group of words will be written in red as distinguished from the white of the remainder of the display, the words appearing letter by letter in red as they are written. If, on the other hand, he delays pressing key ARL or the like until the keyboard KB has been operated in the'proper manner, and then presses this-key, the selected letter, word, or group of words will appear suddenly as a complete whole in.red, as distinguished not only from thewhite of the remainder of the display, but also from the letter by letter appearance of the remainder of the display. This operation I call one of de- ,ayed display and instead of fixed red,

flashing white, flashing red, or alternating white and red, may all be had at will by simply pressing the proper key either just after operating key L'IR, or just after operating the keyboard KB. The display may then be continued in the normal manner, by

The se- Assuming that simply pressing key RK' (thereby opening the lockingcircuit of 121, heretofore closed 1 through its contact 122), and proceeding with the writing on keyboard KB as usual. lhe

continuation of thedisplay is in the normal or other chosen quality --ofv the sign as a whole. Relays id of course remain locked up, thus continuing to emphasize or attract special attention to the chosen letter, Word,

or group of words. .If it is desired to discontinue such emphasis, the operator has only to release key RK (thereby unlocking the controlling relay 126, 129, 131, or 133, as the case may be), whereupon the letter, word, or group of words will be ob- 8Q literated entirely, or he may press release key BK in that branch of the locking con- (luctor 25 extending to relays id, whereupon the relays fall back, and the selected letter, word, or.group of words par-takes of 5 the quality of the whole, whereupon another group of characters in the same row may be emphasized in a similar manner. During this time. of special emphasis of any group of characters, the quality of the dis- 9() play as a whole may be freely changed with reference thereto from the fixed white to V 'ble further, by simply retaining control relay 121 of the group relays z'd continuously energized, energizing it by-pressure of key LTR and maintaining its locking circuit through RK' closed as described heretofore, to delay the display of a whole line, and

then suddenly flash the whole line, or indeed a whole group of lines by simply releasing the locked up relays id of the sign as a Whole by pressing release key RK On theother hand the same may be accomplished by presslng one of the keys of the group beginning with YWL, the relays z'd remaining energized, 'Biddles may be set up, blanks being left to be filled in by the observing public, and after a few moments the correct answer suddenly flashed out in a characteristic color. Two or more groups of characters may be so emphasized in the same line, there being no confusion of the operation on this account, it beingsimply necessary to press key LTR at the beginning,

and release key HR at the end of the writing of each chosen board KB.

Going still further, my invention includes group upon the keyan essentially similar system of connections It is possible to omit certain Words 100 for emphasizing by meansof underscoring. yfirst row. The corresponding relays of The relays cm which control the connection groups IN and GR of the second row II of conductors 16 to the power conductor, (see Fig. 3) lockup to common conductor 100, like the relays id may be individually 25 whereby a complete duplication of the energized to segregate any group of under accomplished energizationin glroups IN and 70 scoring elements UN. One terminal of re-' GB of row I takes place in t e correspondlays an is connected normally through the ing groups of row II at the same time the ground connection indicated on the leftto duplicatiomof the character display takes battery, while the other terminal of each place. Referring further to Fig. 3', it will be 1o relay is bonnectecl with an individual conseen that transfer contacts 36 are 'also'pro- 75 tact in a bank UB of switch SI. Arm 148 f vided on these relays, controlling transfer 0011- sweeping over these contacts may, like arm ductors37 extending to the relays of groups 120, be connected to the source of power by IN and OR of row III (these latter two conductor 149 closed to the source through groups being not shown, being in all re- 3 normally open contact 150 of 'relay151, the spects similar to the groups shown for row circuit of which iscontrolled bykey 'UNDm II in Fig. 3)". ;These transfer contacts 36 Relay 151 locks up by'contact 152, key RK are connected to common conductor the andconductor 153 to locking conductor 25? same to which the transfer contacts 36 of of row I. Upon the pressure of key UND, the character relays of row II are connected.

20 relay 151 pulls up, and the groups of under- These transfer circuits haye already been 35 scoring elements UN are thereupon illumi-. fully explained" as between Figs. 1 and 2 nated as the characters are displayed for as and selecting devices D, but for clearness long a period as desired, common conductor sake one may be traced from common-trans- 16 being individually connected by/relays" fer conductor 35" having its origin in the- 25 'Mfl/ with power conductor 100, connected with transfer group TR through normally open the source of power. The switch arms, 19, contact 36 of relay 133 for instance, con- 120, and 148, of switch SP are connected ductor 37, and to corresponding rel 3 -133. to a common spindle and are therefore of group CR (not shown, but like ER V stepped in synchronism; and each at all ,times Fig- 3, thereby energizing this, relay and 80 connects with corresponding contacts. continuing the determined quality in the Inasmuch asthe switch SP stepsslightly third line of the display. The same arran ein advance of the energization of the charment is continued throughout the provi e d acter relays A, B, etc., any selected'indinumber of'rows. Thereby the display is vidual or underscoring relay 'id orWM) is transferred from line to line in precisely 35 energized before power is applied to trunk the salmeform in which it occurred origiconductors 12, wherelipon breaking of the nally, and the emphasis or other special 7 power current at the relay contacts is precharacterization of any chosen groups may vented. The relays of the group CR or the be -.retained throughout the display from like controlling the powerc ircuits may of' lineto-line.

4 0-course themselves be of substantial size,ta This: ys fi sf lly e e y 2 1 1 ing the 'form, if necessary, of contactors, ment'as an announcer foinews bulletins. It

commonly known in the railway and other f r h r-m s ery q i e e fo n'a arts, or on 'the'other hand these relays may no'u'nc r of the time of day. Both of these themselves control the power circuitsthrough uses may be interpolated during the period 45 contact'olS, the energization of which they the system -isbeing used for advertising control. This is a well'known expedient. purposes, thusgreatl'y enhancing the utility So muchfor the display upon a single as an advertising device. With a special lineasthe'system is-or'ganized inthepresent I news wire, and the time before. him, an ,opb di nt, Th n f th transfer era'tor cannot lack at any time material with I 0 of the 'display from one line to another has h h t attra an hold the attention of 115,

vices D. Not only doesthis transfer take Myinvent10n is capable of many modifi place in identity of character, but alto in .ations without departing in any wise from identity of. quality, transfer-"contacts 36 be its generic "'spirit.'

65 ing provlded on'each of'the relays an and n In'thefi accompanying Fig. 4QjIfshow' one id, and on. each .of the relays of the'grou such mo n. A rding o this modi- CR, controlling ov'er transfer conductors 3i fication, instead. of transferring the display as in case of the character relays, the cirfrom one line to another, the display may be I cuits of, corresponding relays of the groups commended at the, top line of a plurality of I 60 IN and OR of the second row 11.. Morelines and continued to tjhcjbottom, and thereoven-as inspection-will show, the relays of. 'upon the entire play wiped 011i? and a the groups IN} and CR and the like 0011- new display commenced.- This; of course. taining' the :transfercontacts 36, are each follows naturally from-the 'precediilg sys-' locked .up to the same common locking 'contem', since any row of display devices-might l8 ducto'r: 25; of the character relays of the be split up into a plurality of 'rows. 3 @Acv cording to the modification, however, more than one spacing switch is used, such as SP,

SP etc. They are all actuated by the same stepping magnet ac, but battery is connected 'with only one of them at a time. This batds which is energized once each time arm 19 of switch SP sweeps over its bank, its circuit being completed by way of contact 170. By its contact No. 1, switch DS'puts battery on spacing switch SP, by contact 1 No. 2 on SP", etc., there being provided as many switches SP as there are rows of display devices. The contacts 00 of switch SP control circuits 20 of the character relays A, B, etc., of the first row, while contacts 00 of" switch SP control the circuits20 of the second row of character selecting relays A, B, etc. The circuits 21 from the control keys KB are multipled as shown at 21 to the character relays A, B, etc., of the other ,rows. This effects a saving in apparatus.

Referring to Fig. 2 it is to be noted that when any one of the'keys ARL, YRL- or,

switch arm 19 function in the same manner YVVL is pressed, the relay 121 is energized over conductor 121. Thereby the key LTR does not have to be pressed, when' it is desired to immediately display a given group of characters in an emphasizing quality.

The power conductors 100 and 101, normally in circuit with the lamps 1', 10 of devices D, are extended as clearly indicated throughout the several rows of display devices D, whereby one set of relays 103, 106

and 109 suflices to control all those devices not segregated for individual emphasls by the relays id.

By connecting conductors 16 through contacts of relays cm to conductors of the like of 101 and 100*, it is obviously possible to change the quality of the underscoring in the same manner as the quality of the characters segregated by relay id is changed.

As at present connected, the quality will be changed synchronously with the change in quality of the characters of devices D connected with conductor 100.

It will be observed in connection with Figs. 2 and 3, that there are provided in Fig. 3 a set of relays 129", 131", 133" and 126", having functions as respects conductors 100, and 101 entirely similar to the functions of relays 129, 131, 133. and 126 of Fig. 2. This second group of relays controls the duality of the segregated characters of row II, and is designated CR. The relays of this group are controlled over transfer circuits 37 closed by contacts 36 on the corresponding relays of the group CR, and

the circuits are readily traceable.

The operation of contactor 90 may be at any time controlled independently of transfen key TK, by circuit closing key K, and

circuit opening key K in the locking circuit 96.

The control of relay 90 is effected somewhat difi'erently in the modification of Fig.

4:, a special transfer key 'TK being provided.

This key consists of three contacts, the one 160 through which the circuit 88 of contactor 90 is adapted to be closed, and which is a make-before-break contact as respects .contact 161 which retains normally closed the locking circuit 25 of character relays A, B, etc., and the third of which 162 is adapted to close the circuit of the new-line relay 3-1 of switch SP Thus when key TK is pressed, relay 90 is energized, breaking to commence a new line irrespective of the particular bank of contacts 00', 00, etc., which may be at the time energized in connection with the corresponding lines.

lVith this understanding of the system of my invention, it will be apparent that this system but carries out the several methods of selective character display set forth in the annexed .claims. Inasmuch as these claims are most plainly interpretable from theforegoing description of the operation ofthe system, and inasmuch as the system has been described'with a view to setting forth the various stepsof these methods of my invention, description thereof to a further extent is deemed unnecessary. It need only be said that my invention includes the methods herein disclosed as well as the systemu -asa whole and the individual apparatuses of which it is composed.

I claim 1. The method of selectively operating electric display boards which comprises selectively determining the characters to be displayed, operatively segregating individually from the remainder those characters it is desired to emphasize, and separately determining the quality of the display thereof independently of the determination of the quality of the remainder.

2. The method of selectively operating a number of consecutiyely arranged display positions which consists in selectively determining the characters to'be displayed" always in the same osition, and thereafter progressively trans erring theselected display from position to position in the order of succession of the same and producing new displays in the preceding positions,

4 The method of selective character 'display from a plurality of lines of display arranged in vertical succession which method consists in selectively determining the characters to be displayed always upon the bot; tommrfit line, and progressively transfer ring s of vertical succession of the lines. s

5. The, method of selective character display from a plurality of display positions, which consists in initially selectively determinin the characters to be 'displayed always in the same position, as they are selected, segregating from the remainder those charactersit is desired to emphasize, determining the quality of display thereof independently of determination of u'ality of the remainder thereof, and therea er progressively transferring the display from position:

to position in the order of-succession thereof, and in the same quality as initially determined. I I a 6. In a selective character display-system in combination, a plurality ofbharacter dis-.-

play devices, a setof character determining switches. associated with eachof the said de} vices primarily to determine the character displayed, a character keyboard having a key for each character and a spacing means, jointly controlling the said character switches. I

7. In a selective character display system, incombination, a plurality of character display devices, a set comprising a plurality 9f character determining switches one for, each character to be displayed permanently associated with each display device primarily to determine the character displayed, a character keyboard each character key of which controls commonly all likecliaracter switches of the sets, and a step by step spacing switch also controlled from said keyboard and selectively controlling each set of character switches and coiiperating with said keyboard to progressively space the selected characters. a

8. In a selective character display system, a line ofchangeable character display, de-- vices, a group of selective switching means connected therewith to determine the characters displayed, means for'operating the same, a second line of character display devices, a group of selective character deterid display. from line to line in order mining" switches therefor, transfer connections between said groups of selective switching 7 means established by the first named switching means, and control means to effect a transferof the selected displayupon the one group to the other.

10. In a character display system, a plurality of changeable'character display devices, selective switching means to determine the display thereon, and a traveling body having code control formations arranged in---order of musical itime and connected with said selective switching means I to control the same'through its control formations, together with a character key -board, also connected with said selective switching meansto control the same and having a key for each character.

11. In a character display system, L plurality ofchangeable character '"displayade- .vices, a source of power, selective switching means to determine the character of the 9. In a character display system a pluraldisplay, and an individually operable sega regating switch controlling the-connection of each device with said source of power independently of the selective switching,

means."

12. The method character display system, which method consists in selectively determining the characters to be displayed oneby one but in of operating a selective.

groups according to syllables and separated by intervals related "to each other in musi-' cal time, ,whereby the air of a displayed composition is suggested to and supplied by the mind of the observer. f

13. In a selective character .display system, a plurality pf changeable display dc vices, selective switching means to determine the display thereon, two independently operable sets of controlling means through which said display devices may be connected with a source' of power, and a.

switching means individual'to eabh' display device arranged to switch the power cofi- -nection of the device from one of'said sets of control means to the other.-

14. Ina system of the character described a plurality of changeable display C evices, switching means connected therewith for controlling the character of the display thereon, means to vary the quality of the display findependently. of the character thereof, ad-

selectionoperatively" segregating ind 1d; ually from the remainder those characters means to control the same and having a key for each character.

15. A character display system comprising a plurality of changeable display devices, each device' including a plurality of independently energizable translating elements adapted to be energized in combinations to represent various characters and having individual and common terminals,-

selective switching means connected with individual terminals of said translating elements to determine the characters displayed. means to vary the quality of the display independently of the "character thereof, and additional switching means connected with common terminals of the translating elements of each device to determine the quality of display.

16. The method of selectively operating electric display boards which comprises (1) selective, progressive, and individual determination of the characters tobe dis played, (2) independently of the character which it is desired to emphasize, and changing the quality of display thereofindependently of the quality of the remain: der of the display.

17. The method of selective character display from a plurality of lines of display ar-' ranged in a numerical series which method comprises primarily displaying the characters to be displayed always upon a given line, and progressively transferring said display bodilyfrom line to line of the series in determinate successive order.

18'. The method of operating a selective 51 character display system comprising the selection and operation of the characters to be displayed in syllabic groups, and displaying the characters of each group substantially simultaneously, and separating the groups from each other according to musical time of the 'words of a musical composition display, whereby the air' of a displayed composition is suggestive to and supplied by the mind of the observer.

19. In a selective character display system, a plurality of changeable display demine the display thereon, a plurality of differently characterized power transmission connections, and switching means individual to each display device arranged to switch said display device from one of said power connections to the other.

vices, selective switching means to deter- 20. In a selective character display sys tem, a plurality pfchangeable display devices, selective switching means to determine the display thereon, a source of power, and switching means individual to each display device arranged to control the connection thereof with the source of power individually and independently of said character selective switching means and-of the remainder of the display devices.

' 21. In aselective character display system, a plurality of changeable display devices, selective switching means to determine the character display, an emphasis dis- I play means associated with each display device, and individually operable switching 8 means individual vto each device and arranged to control the energizati'on of said emphasis display means.

22. In a selective character display 'system, a plurality of changeable display devices, selective switching means to determine the'character display, an emphasis display means associated with each display device, and i dividually operable switching means individual of each device and arranged to control the energization of said emphasis display means together with means to vary the quality of said emphasis display.

In a selective character display system, a plurality of changeable display de- 5 vices, selective switching means to determine the display thereon, and underscoring means associated with each of the aforesaid devices together with individual control means therefor. A

24:. In a selective character display system, a plurality of changeable display devices, an underscore display associated with each of said display devices and arranged together to form a-continuous line, selective switching means to determine the character display on said first mentioned devices together with individual control means for said underscore display.

25. In a selective character display system, a plurality of changeable display devices, selective switching means to determine the display thereon, separate and differently characterized connections to a source of power, individually controlled locking relays individual to the display devices arranged to connect the same alternately to said power connections together with commonly controlled locking circuits for said relays. I 26. In a selective character display system, a plurality of changeable display devices,.sel.ective switching means to determine the display thereon, differently characterized power connections, a spacing means associated with said switching means, and individual switches controlling the connections of saiddisplay devices to said power connections and themselves actuated through ciated with each ,of the said devices indi-' vidually to determine the characters displayed on said board,,a character vkey board common to all of said sets of switches and having its individual keys controlling com monly respectively determining switches of like character, and aspacing means having successive switching positions in which it controls successively each set of character determining switches s a whole.

2-8. In a selective character display system in combination, a plurality of character display devices arranged in a plurality of lines, a set of character determining switches associated with each of said devices to determine the character displayed and arranged in groups according to the lines to which they pertain, a character key board arranged to control the character determining switches of one line only, together witlr" display transfer connections between the character determining switches of the respective lines.

29. In a selective character display system in combination, a plurality of character display devices arranged in a plurality of lines, a set of character determining switches associated with each of said devices to determine the character displayed and arranged in groups according to the lines to which they pertain, a character keyboard arran ed to control the character determining switc es of one line only, together with display transfer connections between the character determining switches of therespective lines, astep by step spacing device normally operable one' step at a time, over a determinate range, together with additional means to I step said switch continually from an intermediate point of said range to one terminus thereof. 7 v

30. In a selective character display system in combination, a plurality of character display devices, a set of character determining switches associated with each of the said devices to determine the character displayed, a character key board having akey for each character, and a spacing means jointly .con-' trolling the said character, switches, saidspacing meansnormally operable one step at atime together with additional operating devices for said spacing means arranged to carry it without stop throughout its range of steps.

31. In a selective character display system, two groups ofi display devices, one group of primary control selective switching means, two groups of quality determining devices arranged respectively to determine t-he quality of the display upon the groups a of display devices, transfer connections established upon the energization of the selective switchlng means and of a quality determining means to effect the transfer of electric display in the same quality from one group of display devices to the other, 

